Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-09-22
OHIO ATGETTYSBURG
Marble Memorials to Her Fallen
Soldiers.

OOlUlefS.
GETTYSBURG, Pa, September 1.-The
nineteen Ohio monuments were dedi-
Gated this morning with exercises that
were both impressive and appropriate
to the occasion. At 10 o'clock the ded
ication began at the rostrum in the Ma
tional Cemetery. The program opened
by an earnest prayer by the Rev. VIM.
F. Moore, DID,. of Columbus. He was
followed by Adjutant General Axline. of
Ohio, who delivered an address on "0hio
Troops in the Battle of Gettysburg. p"
1t was brief summary of the positions
of the various regiments on the battle
field, the number of regiments, their in :
dividuai strength, and their losses on
the bloody field. The aggregate strength
of the Ohio organizations was put at g.
327 The total killed was III, wound
ed 754, missing 346; total loss in killed,
wounded and missing 1,271. 1t aver
aged about one man taken and two left
Following General Axlines speech was
an address by the Hon. Emil Kiesewet>
ter, State Auditor of Ohio, who spoke
upon "Fhe Memorial Commission and
its Work" He gave detailed and in
teresting account Of the progress of the
movement from the time of its original
conception when meager $4,000 was
appropriated by the State Assem- bly,,
which was afterward increased to $685.
900, when the wants of the case were
better made known Secretary of State
James s. Robinson, of Ohio. in behalf
of the commission and the people of the
State then presented the memorials to
Gov. Foraker, of that State.
His remarks were received with con-
siderable enthusiasm, and he was greet>
ed with cheers as he stepped to the
front of the platform. General Robin
son was in command of the SD O.V.I.
at the battle of Gettysburgh. As be
concluded Governor Foraker, of Ohio,
was introduced, and the air rang with
great applause and enthusiastic cheers
During the progress of his remarks, in
which he presented the memorials to
the Battlefield Memorial Association,he
was interrupted by expressions of ap>
proval, and at the conclusion perfect
ovation of hand-clapping and cheers
from the old veterans greeted him. He
spoke as follows:
GENTLEMEN oFTHE GETTYSBURG MEM
ORAL AssOCIATIoN-Plym Rock,
jamestown and Gettysburg are three of
the most important points in American
history. They mark respectively the
beginning OF free and slave institutions,
and the triumph of the one over the
other. Until the march of time and pro-
gress brought US to this field, free, pop,
ular government was indeed but an
experiment, meDaced by doubtful as
we'll as an irrepressible conflict. Here
was found the beginning of the erd
The struggle that commenced with
American civilization grew continually
stronger and tiercer until Pickett charg
ed AS his columns reeled back ward
in defeat, the cause of human bondage
began to pale and the tide of rebellion
10 recede. From Gettysburg to Apo
paltox was long march, stained with
blood aud strewn with the dead, but the
bravery with which it was resisted was
but tie sullen obs!inacy of despair; for
here the prestige of the slave power had
been broken. On this field the cause of
liberty and union gained positive and
permanent triumph. When the broken
battalions of Lee mat ched out of Penn
sylya0ia it was already virtually deter
mined that the American UUlon was in
diSsoluble; that the Constitution of the
United States WAS the organic law of
the pevple; that 40 State had right 10
defy the National power; that slavery
must perish; that the whole land should
be dedicated to human liberty; that We
should have but one government, one
Il tg and one destiny for the whole Amer
lean people.
Almost quar- er of q century has
passed. Tue moving columns. glitter
ing bayo1ets, flashing sabers and charg-
ing squadrons of that fearful time are
gone forever. The r4ttiing musketry
and The roaring cannon of the mighty
struggle are hushed. Where was the
carnage of war is now only peace.
Quiet and beauty reigO over these
historic heights aud pleasing plains.
Men Who met here In the shock of battle
as foes have since met here to clasp
hands as friends aud fellow citizens of
a re-nEited country. If there be any
one thing for " hicb we should be more
thankful than We are for the success of
the Union arms. it Is that through the
mercy of God our lives have been spared
to see the day when the men who bat
tied SO vlliantly TO destroy the Union
are beginning to realize how utterly
wicked and unjusitiable was their
cause. and how indescrlbably great was
the blessing to them, as well as to us, OF
their defeat. As the years go by, appre
citation for this blessing will be strength
ened. The day can not be long delayed
when the Lust Cause will have lost its
last mOurner; when all will recognize,
with profound thanktulness for the 70
suit, that the war was waged not for de-
structinn, but for preservation; not for
sectiunsism, but for union; that we
might go forward with common pride
to a common destiny.
1t is impossible to exaggeTate the i'm
pOItance of these orssqnences OF the
vaior, heroism, and sacrifice of life that
were here witnessed. We have, az re-
snlt. not only an imperial domain of
territory capable of accommodating the
hundreds of millions who are coming
with the years of the future, but we
have also civil and political equality for
all; We have satisfactory constitution
aid theory of Government for all; we
have a common interest for all.
Onr success has been felt beyond our
own shores. 1t has cheered all mankind.